Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office in Lucknow on Monday
His remarks came days after a hoarding surfaced in Lucknow featuring Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with the message: “200 seats are our right; UP trusts Rahul Gandhi.
Who is behind them and who is paying for them?” he said. Questioning the source of the campaign, Akhilesh asked who was putting up the posters and funding them. “This is not the first time such objectionable posters have appeared.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday dismissed the controversy over Congress ’ purported demand for 200 seats in the UP elections, saying attempts to drive a wedge between alliance partners would instead strengthen the PDA bloc.
Reiterating his commitment to the Congress-SP alliance, Akhilesh said the Samajwadi Party had extensive experience in forging and managing political partnerships. Taking a swipe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , who recently said Akhilesh Yadav would not return to power, the SP chief said he was interested in a “kursi” (chair) to serve people and not a “gaddi” (throne). He expressed confidence that the alliance would emerge stronger as the elections approach.
He said a coordinated campaign is underway to create confusion and weaken opposition unity ahead of the Assembly polls. “The more such posters are put up, the more misinformation is spread, and the more attempts are made to insult others, the stronger the PDA will become,” he said. Addressing media at the SP headquarters in Lucknow, Akhilesh questioned the motives behind posters and hoardings highlighting the alleged seat demand and targeting the SP-Congress alliance.